When Panic Strikes
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Are you prone to panic? When something bad happens, do you feel the electricity surge through your body and anxiety threaten to overtake your senses? Or maybe you experience attacks even when you are not encountering a tough situation. Your heart races or you start to feel dizzy because a sudden feeling of fear overwhelms your body. You feel like you are losing control and maybe you start to tremble. It’s such a scary feeling. What do you do when panic strikes?
While I’ve never truly experienced panic attacks to the point of needing medical attention, I have felt panicked many times. Most of the time, for me, it was due to overpowering circumstances. For example, this morning, my daughter, Taylor, experienced three seizures in a row as a result of her neurological degeneration from her disease, MPS. When this happens and I hear her before I see her, I get a pit in my stomach and rush into her room to make sure she is lying on her side. Mentally, I know the procedure of how to care for her and when to use emergency medication. But the emotions caused by watching her frail frame convulse and her sweet face contort cause total fear and threaten to disable me.
When panic threatens, I’ve trained myself not to give in to the panic. While I don’t have a perfect track record, there are a few ways I’ve found to deal with the feelings of being overwhelmed. Today I wanted to share a few ways to pray when panic strikes. If it’s your first time visiting, then you should know that I believe prayer is powerful. So powerful that it not only changes things, prayer changes hearts. Here are the ways I pray when Taylor is having a seizure.
1.Pray immediately.
Prayer trumps panic. Every. Time.
It’s always, always, always better to pray than panic. Amen? When things are out of control, God is always in control.
2. Pray urgently.
I’m not sure who said it, but let your faith be bigger than your fear. Believe that in your desperate moment, God is going to provide an answer and he will work all things for the good of those who love him.
3. Pray continually.
Even when the crisis passes and you’ve entered a safety zone, continue to pray. Breath a prayer of thanks for the safety zone and continue to pray for God to work in the situation.
4. Pray passionately.
Remember that immediacy and urgency of prayer you experienced at the first sign of panic? Continue to pray as passionately with thanksgiving and praise to God for his presence. He is with you. There is power in the name of Jesus and when we cry out to him, we are acknowledging who he is- the Savior of the world.
Training ourselves to pray in place of panic comes with practice. So don’t be discouraged if you find yourself continually fighting feelings of panic or distress. When Taylor has a seizure, I have to enter a prayer zone each time and run through these four steps over and over again. But I know that God answers prayer and that prayer is so much more powerful than panic.
Rachel
RESOURCES:
If you enjoyed this article, 4 ways to pray when panic strikes, then you’ll love Rachel’s book, One More Step: Finding Strength When You Feel Like Giving Up. Read the first chapter for free!
Thanks for this post. we must always watch and pray.prayer calms every quaking nerves in me,it overtakes my reality and arrest my panic.
amen!
When I started to suffer from anxiety attacks I had a conversation with a very wise woman that went like this:
WISE WOMAN: Are you praying during the attacks?
ME: Well, duh!
WISE WOMAN: But I bet you’re praying for yourself.
ME: Well, duh!
WISE WOMAN: I want you to pray for everyone BUT you.
Works. Every. Time. When I lift up other people to the Lord I get out of my own head.
I am learning to Pray in all situations.
Panic/Aniexty is something I deal with daily. Finding a spot n just praying helps.
Just what I needed to hear today. Just this morning as I was driving to the Care Clinic to volunteer I was running through in my head all of the things that are going on in my life right now and I started to get panicked. Thinking about everything that needs to be done and wondering where we are going to get the money for this. This post was such a great reminder that prayer really is the first thing that we need to do in any situation. I love how God works out everything all we need to do is pray and lean on him. Amen!
I remember that I can’t be fearful & faithful at the same time!
This is a great article! I really enjoy reading your posts!
When I get really stressed or panicky about our financial situation, self-employment can tend to be stressful at times. I find that when I walk around our property (which is very private and surrounded by woods, that’s when I feel closer to the Lord, and through prayer and meditation on verses, strengthens me, calms me and God just pours out His grace and peace to me. I just feel closer to God when I do that.
I needed that to be reminded to pray instead of panic that is usually what happen in difficult situations. Thankyou, so much for that as it seems like lately that , that has been reacurring.
When I feel overwhelmed, I listen and sing praise and worship music and feel God’s loving arms enveloping me
Yes, prayer is powerful! Praying for Taylor, you, and your family.
I’ve been learning recently that praying instead of panicking is so much better for me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. The total perfect package!
You have a beautiful family and post very practical, helpful and encouraging posts. Thank you very much and I pray you are blessed!
I think we’re all guilty of panic to a certain degree. This wall decal is the perfect reminder for myself and our Bible Study Small Group!
I, unfortunately, suffer from generalized anxiety and panic attacks. Anytime I begin to feel anxious, I close my eyes and pray and almost instantly I feel a wave of calmness. this post was exactly what I needed to hear today. Thank you!
Prayer is the only thing that can deliver on the peace that passes understanding. Thank you for this post. Heart Hugs <3
I so believe in God’s timing, and after a morning of anxiety about a major decision I made, comes this blog entry in my email box. I don’t turn to prayer as often as I should. This was a good reminder to do that. For a purely physical remedy, I breathe deeply.
i don’t always try to win things, but the wall decal offer is calling my name! I have felt overwhelmed by work, overwhelmed by things at home, overwhelmed by physical needs, and just plain overwhelmed. i drove home today knowing that i had hit the wall. Saw your post in my email – stopped myself and prayed(!) – and have entered the contest to win the decal offer. Will post this on Facebook and remind myself to pray, pray, pray, (and pray some more) today!
I love this saying! Prayer gives me the peace that passes all understanding!
It must have been a God whisper. I am worried that we wont be able to move this summer as needed and panic feeling started taking over, I came to your page and what happens to be your topic today? Prayer over panic. Thank you! I am giving it to God.
I love this reminder and need to use it daily!
Awesome reminder! I’ve been struggling with prayer lately, and everywhere I turn, prayer is the subject of whatever I’m reading or listening to. I thank God for your blog! Your words of encouragement are placed here by God for my benefit today! God bless you and your family!
I really believe you about the panic. Sometimes it feels like a flood in my heart. I do pray and I do feel better but then I get frustrated with myself because I know God is with me all the time. I don’t want Him to think I doubt His protection. I hope things go well with you.
Reciting Scripture really helps me.
I have experienced many panic attacks. Some I needed medical attention but most I can conquer on my own. Prayer, reading my Bible, and listening to worship music are the only things that work for me. Whenever I get the feeling of “dread”, I open up my Bible to the book of Psalms. It always helps me, no matter what verse it is. After I read for a little bit, I continue with prayer. And listening to worship music can lift anyone’s spirits!!
Thank you for sharing!
Such a good reminder. Panic is usually my natural response. I need to remember that I do have another (and much better) option!